#Helderbergfire: Evacuation plans suspended, firefighters remain on scene
Officials are appealing to the public to stay out of the area to keep the roads open for emergency vehicles to pass through.
CAPE TOWN - A team of more than 100 firefighters will remain in the Helderberg this afternoon, in a bid to extinguish a wildfire in Somerset West.
#HelderbergFire No homes damaged in Boskloof estate, neighbouring Morgenster Est. olive vines affected. NM pic.twitter.com/2mvN4hZqcP
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) January 4, 2017
The 4-star Bezweni Lodge in Sir Lowry's Pass Village burnt down late on Tuesday afternoon and several other structures were partially destroyed or gutted.
Officials are appealing to the public to stay out of the area to keep the roads open for emergency vehicles to pass through.
Emergency service officials say they have the blaze largely under control, but they’re not letting their guard down.
#HelderbergFire some residents say waterbombers earlier diverted to Morgenster estate @nataliemalgas. pic.twitter.com/y79epJbTjb
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) January 4, 2017
Crews on the ground are still working hard, while helicopters dump hundreds of litres of water on the fire.
Hot, dry and windy conditions means there could be flare-ups at any moment.
#SomersetFire Boskloof estate evacuated earlier today, about 70 families cleared their homes as a precaution. Waterbombers using estate dam. pic.twitter.com/gQ8l64Q9qd
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) January 4, 2017
Officials say evacuation plans have been suspended, as no properties are currently under threat.
Some residents of Boskloof Estate have also returned to their homes after evacuating their properties this morning.
#HelderbergFire pockets of smoke still billowing across the hilly farm lands, crews say only helicopters can reach. NM pic.twitter.com/PaRyXbhZCo
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) January 4, 2017
Meanwhile, firefighters are battling flare-ups in a blaze on the Grabouw Mountain.
The fire, which broke out in the Hansenkop area on Tuesday, is threatening to move downwards towards a nature reserve.
Overberg district chief officer Reinhardt Geldenhuys says four ground teams are attempting to contain the Grabouw fire to high up on the mountain.
“The Grabouw fire still has an active line burning towards Hansenkop and further in the northerly direction, all along the mountain. We’ve had multiple flare-ups. We’ve deployed aerial resources in order to control those flare ups.”
A separate fire in Kleinmond has been contained for now, but firefighting efforts continue.
Fire services confirmed a short while ago there are no fires in Cape Town’s southern suburbs.
To take a look at a gallery of pictures of the fire, click here.
(Edited by Shimoney Regter)
